I've been covering the business of news, information and entertainment in one form or another for more than 10 years. In February 2014, I moved to San Francisco to cover the tech beat. My primary focus is social media and digital media, but I'm interested in other aspects, including but not limited to the sharing economy, lifehacking, fitness & sports tech and the evolving culture of the Bay Area. In past incarnations I've worked at AOL, Conde Nast Portfolio, Radar and WWD. Circle me on Google+, follow me on Twitter or send me tips or ideas at jbercovici@forbes.com.

You know that old joke referenced in “Annie Hall” about the restaurant with the terrible food and the tiny portions? This study makes me think of that. Working as a reporter is just awful — and it’s so hard to find a place to do it!

Inadvertently, all this survey does is highlight the truth: Being a journalist is the best. That’s all there is to it. Yes, there are too few really good jobs and too many people fighting for them. Yes, salaries start out quite low. Yes, the hours can be long and irregular. Yes, the industry is in a period of extreme disruption, with lots of old jobs being destroyed, and the new ones typically offer less security and require different skills.

None of that changes the core fact here. For those who are cut out for it — and that’s definitely not everyone — journalism is a uniquely rewarding, wonderful career. Here are just a few of the reasons why.

-You’re always learning. Remember how great college was? Every semester brought new topics, new professors, new ideas. Your brain got a workout. You could feel yourself getting smarter. Journalism is like that. You’re always building new mental muscles. You start out on a new beat or a new story as ignorant as a child, and within a few weeks or months you’re an expert. Wait, you didn’t like college? Don’t be a journalist. Problem solved.

-You get paid to read a ton. Pretty much every journalist I know starts his day the same way: with a big cup of coffee and the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Post and a dozen or so blogs, either directly or filtered through Twitter, LinkedIn, etc. I’m sure a lot of people with real jobs start their days the same way, but most of them have to do it before they get to work. Suckers.

-You get to meet celebrities. Note that I did not include this under “interesting people.” Sometimes they are and sometimes they aren’t, and often the interaction is too stage-managed and shallow to be able to tell. Sometimes they are big fat jerks who think you must care about meeting them more than you actually do. In any case, it’s nice for your mom to have something to brag about to her friends, since she probably won’t be bragging about how much money you make.

-Maybe you even get to enjoy a little celebrity. Like meeting celebrities, going on TV can be fun and exciting, or it can be excruciating. We journalists aren’t all straight-up attention whores, but I have yet to meet one who doesn’t like having his or her work recognized. Hearing someone say, “Hey, I saw that thing you wrote quoted in the Times!” never, ever gets old.

-All that “stress”? It’s called excitement. Well, not all of it. But tracking down a scoop on deadline, when the newsroom is buzzing with dozens of people doing the same — it’s an adrenaline rush. Plenty of jobs in this world offer the prospect of unrelieved boredom. I’d rather have one that gets my heart pumping. Speaking of which…

-Journalists get around. I’m not even talking about traveling, although most journalists get to do that every once in a while. I’m not a big racker-up of frequent flier miles, but I’ve been to conferences in Puerto Rico and Austin, two places I wouldn’t have made it to otherwise. But set that aside. On a day-to-day level, what matters more is that reporting is rife with chances to get up from your desk, get out of the office and stretch your legs. Don’t like staring at a glowing screen all day? Meet a few sources for coffee, do some man-on-the-street interviews or go cover a trade show. It’s often when you’re playing semi-hooky from the office that you’ll get your best stuff.

-And then there’s the small matter of self-expression. I was thinking about this while watching the premiere of “Girls” on HBO. Lena Dunham’s character is a would-be memoirist who can’t find paying work. This might be a good comedic set up, but the fact is it’s probably never been a better job market for 20-somethings who just want to write about themselves, or at least about their opinions about dating, sex, food, pop culture, etc. If that character doesn’t have a job as a ladyblogger by the end of the season, she at least ought to have a bright future as a TV recapper. For better or worse, the old days of journalists having to put in 20 years of work to earn the right to use the word “I” are well behind us.

Have I convinced you that journalism is the only real career choice for curious, restless semi-narcissists like me? I hope not. There are enough of us already trying to do it. Go be a meter-reader.

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It’s always amusing reading about best or worst somethings, but I do agree this one has been getting more attention than most. I’ve served on both sides of the PR and editorial fence, and while I wouldn’t call myself a journalist, I am proud to be a writer and it’s wonderful that you’ve captured a lot of wonderful things about what we do. After more than 10 years, there’s still a little thrill at seeing my name in print, and a wonderful boost when someone says, ‘I like what you wrote!’

thanks for this article. I’ve been a working journalist since graduating with a degree in journalism from Michigan State University in 1964. It’s been a great ride so far. Have met dozens of interesting people whom I got to interview and thanks to my career choice have gotten in on some rather unusual adventures. I’ve had the opportunity to work with some of the best journalists on Earth and to learn more every day. Storytellers, as Robert Redford said, “broaden our minds: engage, provoke, inspire, and ultimately, connect us.” For journalists that’s a good goal.

Feels nice to read this.. and really funny too.. a tad defensive but funny.. especially the “it’s nice for your mom to have something to brag about to her friends, since she probably won’t be bragging about how much money you make” part.. this is so incredibly true! you didn’t have to take a pot shot at the meter reader though..

Jeff-sama, A great article and thank you for writing it. I think you left one thing out, the vital role of the media as the 4th estate.

I’m overly idealistic but sometimes good investigative journalism corrects social injustices, rights wrongs, and makes the world a better place. To paraphrase Ms. Masters, the former TIME Tokyo Bureau chief, “there should be mention of the good journalism does (and the reward) by enabling people with information – giving them agency.”

And of course, sometimes, Clark Kent actually may do more good than Superman. It just isn’t as showy.

Excellent, but you forgot my favorite reason to be a journalist: the only heavy lifting involved is dragging my rear end out of bed.

That and I’ve never known another profession where people either run up and hug you or threaten to slug you like they do in journalism. The fun part is you never know which response your name will elicit….

Those of us who have toiled in smaller cities may not have as much glamor to recount, but there is still a sense of satisfaction in getting important information out to the public, even if officials or corporate executives want it hidden or spun as a “happy story.” Even in retirement, I find a lot of my reporting impulses linger on, which find an outlet in volunteer work for nonprofit outlets, plus helping my friends still in the business with useful tips or story ideas. I don’t miss the deadlines, nor the profit obsession of publishers. I do like the fact that the Internet has turned the media into a free-for-all, so the Big Guns like the NY Times, Washington Post and the networks no longer can define what the news is. More often, they’re playing catch-up to the independent blogs.

Journalism today plays the role of what literary prose played in the 19th Century and street theater played during Shakespeare’s time – engaging people by telling good stories. It is the ultimate expression of a society’s culture. A record of the times. Surely, money-lending should have been the most coveted position during the Bard’s age and government employ the most precious pursuit during Charles Dickens’ days? But who is remembered the most today? In other words, the ultimate joy of journalism is the experience of shaping up the identity of our times. And if it means working 13-hour days at half the pay, so be it.